Giving thanks

I wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving full of warmth, love and laughter.

I'm most thankful for my family. They're the foundation I stand on. I know no matter what life wings my way, with their help, I'll stay on my feet.

I'm thankful for my health. That's something I can't take for granted, especially with the cost of health care these days. As several of you reminded me around Labor Day, we've got to take care of ourselves. Get enough rest, eat right and exercise.

I'm thankful for my friends. It's a great comfort to pick up the phone and share with them what I'm going through, the good and the bad. Often they'll understand what I'm feeling because they've gone through the same or very similar situations also. One of my favorite sayings is, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Would you agree?

What are you thankful for and why?

Patricia

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Competition

Amazon and Penguin Group USA are partnering again on the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Competition.

The press release states the competition launches Feb. 2, 2009. Between Feb. 2 and Feb. 8, coordinators will accept 10,000 unpublished English-language novel-length manuscripts. Amazon editors will scale that number down to 2,000 entries for the second round. Amazon reviewers will narrow it further to 500 for quarter finalists. Publishers Weekly reviewers will select 100 semi-finalists. Penguin editors will evaluate the 100 semi-finalists and choose three finalists.

Sound daunting? Maybe a little.

Amazon customers will have seven days to vote for the grand prize winner from these three finalists. The winner will be announced on May 22, and will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $25,000 advance.

For more details on the competition and its conditions, visit www.Amazon.com/abna.

Good luck!

Patricia

On Rejection



"James Lee Burke had two literary books published as a young man, then couldn’t get published again until he turned to crime. Meanwhile, every year high six-figure advances get paid to authors who will have more copies in recycling plants than on bookshelves." - Dana King

I love this post on rejection by Dana King. Shows the nuttiness of it all.

- Persia

Great minds think alike. . .especially when it comes to smut.

I mentioned a while ago that I was working on book 5 in my series when my publisher--excuse me, former publisher--pulled the plug on my series. In book 5 there is scene where my main character, Kendra Clayton, in the course of an investigation, shows up at what she thinks is an art studio but is actually a porn studio that just happens to be casting that day for a Star Wars inspired porn flick called Star Whores. If you've read my other books, you know that hilarity ensues when the people at the studio think Kendra is there to audition for the part of Jabba the Slut. It's my favorite part in the whole book and I had a blast writing it. 

Fast forward to last week.  I was reading movie reviews in People Magazine, trying to find out if there was anything at the theaters worth seeing, when I came across a review for a movie called Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I'd heard about this movie but didn't really know what it was about. And since it didn't sound like anything I'd be interested in seeing, I didn't pay it much attention. Then I read the review and my mouth fell open. Zack and Miri Make a Porno is about two cash strapped friends--Zack and Miri-- who decide to make a porn movie to sell on the internet to make some money. So what's the name of their sci fi porn movie? Star Whores!!!!!! What are the odds that we'd be using the same theme and title? 

Now, I know you're probably wondering why I'm so aggravated since the plug was pulled on my series. Well aside from the fact that someone else beat me to what I thought was a great idea, I've decided come hell or high water the next two Kendra books, which are already finished, will be published even if I have to do  it myself. So, I guess it's back to the drawing board. I'm going to have to rewrite the entire scene using a different movie. Any suggestions?

Later,

Angela ; )

Pinch Me! It's Real!

I'm still at that stage of trying to absorb it all. My 91-year-old mother and teenage daughter (who voted in her first election this year) seem more able to accept the reality of Obama's victory than I am. It. Is. Just. So. Wonderful.

And I do hope that people will be realistic and give the man a chance. It took years of bad decisions to get us into this mess, to send the country into this downward spiral. I'd be content if he'd just manage to put on the breaks.

Whew!

As for me, I'm ...

Writing With My Eyes Closed

So that's what I'm doing today. I started doing it because of eye strain, but find it's really an enjoyable way to concentrate. The inner storyteller seems to be released. I can focus on the images in the my mind and describe them better. The NaNo writing's going well, well enough. I'm at that point where I'm already bored with the story, but I know from experience that that doesn't mean anything. It's a slow-moving story, not the kind of fast-paced narrative I usually strive to write. And it's sort of lacking a plot, sort of. We'll see. I'm happy with it. i'm happy with the lack of pressure that comes from just closing my eyes and letter the words come, without editorial judgment. It's nice. I'd love to hit 15,000 words today. Don't know if I will, but that's a goal. - Persia

Progress Meter Courtesy of Writertopia

PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!!!

Did you vote today? If so, congratulations! If not, don't forget to vote! Every vote counts! Get out and VOTE!!!

I was in line this morning for an hour and a half, which is nothing compared to the wait some people across the country will have today. Some of the people waiting in line with me were so busy running their mouths and yakking on their cell phones they didn't realize they were in line for the wrong precinct. A couple of them got pissed and left without voting. So pay attention people! There are volunteers at the polls who are there to help you. If you don't know where you should be, just ask! It's not rocket science. You're not performing brain surgery. You don't need a PhD. Okay. Rant over. Just Vote!

Happy election day!

Angela